Garmin Inreach will soon be obsolete!!!

[ottobounds]

I have used the InReach pretty heavily over the last 5 hunting seasons but this year might be the last one. The subscription changes by Garmin combined with the other options for backcountry / emergency communications (constantly improving iPhone capabilities and StarLink) will likely mean an end of the InReach for me. The technology is improving so quickly...

 

[Philward]

I've had satellite internet in the past and it was affected by heavy rain, snow, best service in clear weather. How do these emergency coms work in those cases? Affected at all?

 

[Flintlock shooter]

Following

 

[IdahoShooting]

I have an Inreach mini two as well as a new iPhone. Satellite messaging is very buggy on the phone. You have to be with absolutely no service or the satellite option does not come up. Sometimes I have found I do not have enough service to send a message, and still do not have the option to send a message via satellite. The phone absolutely does not replace the Inreach device at this time.

 

[ottobounds]

I will say that if nothing else, the InReach was very reliable. One of my favorite things about it was that I could hang it up at the top of my tent and then just text my family while lying in my sleeping bag. If the iPhone gets to that level of functionality then the game changes. Time will tell.

 

[NotLongRange]

Another issue with satellite texting on the iPhone is you have to have a clear overhead view to the sky to connect to satellites. If you're in the woods with a canopy of tree branches overhead, it won't work.

Again…I wouldn't pitch your In-Reach just yet.

 

[Ckleeves]

As others have said it's not quite time to ditch the Inreach but I think it's coming in the next few years. The iPhone sat texting is cool but having to maintain the sat connection during a conversation is inconvenient.

T-Mobile getting starlink is going to be real interesting. I don't have a ton of experience with starlink but from the little I have used it it's impressive.

 

[IdahoShooting]

I've had satellite internet in the past and it was affected by heavy rain, snow, best service in clear weather. How do these emergency coms work in those cases? Affected at all?

My in reach device seems to work anywhere in any weather.

 

[woodwurx]

That is for people who use i-phones, so I will go right along my merry business. The Garmin comes many other great features too, yes many can be done on a smart phone, but you need service for those features on the phones.

Agreed it's for the iPhone now, but I guarantee every other phone company is going to pick up on this very soon. Competition is fierce in the cell phone world.

 

[woodwurx]

I have used the InReach pretty heavily over the last 5 hunting seasons but this year might be the last one. The subscription changes by Garmin combined with the other options for backcountry / emergency communications (constantly improving iPhone capabilities and StarLink) will likely mean an end of the InReach for me. The technology is improving so quickly...

Exactly!!!! Every year I've used my Inreach, I always seem to have an issue with my billing too. I had extra charges on my bill multiple times & it was because they said I went over my allowed # of text messages. One of the times, I had unlimited text. Another time, I found that there were duplicate text charges and that got erased, but I'm sure so many people don't pay attention to their garmin bill. All I'm saying is the competition is going strong & no reason to pay double for two different devices